How many BTU is the typical automotive A/C unit?

Eli

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Oct 9, 1999
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Just curious.

My car doesen't have A/C, so I'm brainstorming a plan to add it. :evil:

No, it's not what you're thinking...

Text

lol
 

Lounatik

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Oct 10, 1999
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Most auto AC's are right around 5 tons,IIRC. I used to do home AC's and remember others telling me that car ac's are 5 tons or so.

Peace


Lounatik
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Originally posted by: Lounatik
Most auto AC's are right around 5 tons,IIRC. I used to do home AC's and remember others telling me that car ac's are 5 tons or so.

Peace


Lounatik
Sh!t, that's huge.

~60,000BTU? :Q
 

Rubycon

Madame President
Aug 10, 2005
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Originally posted by: Eli

Lounatik
Sh!t, that's huge.

~60,000BTU? :Q[/quote]

Did you not see your PM?


Also search for Chrysler Airtemp. Talk about capacity. Those compressors are still sought after for decent air compressors by tinkerers. ;)
 

Eli

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Oct 9, 1999
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Originally posted by: MS Dawn
Originally posted by: Eli

Sh!t, that's huge.

~60,000BTU? :Q

Did you not see your PM?


Also search for Chrysler Airtemp. Talk about capacity. Those compressors are still sought after for decent air compressors by tinkerers. ;)
DOH, I didn't see it..

Now I did tho.. lol

Wow. I had no idea it took that much capacity to keep such a small space cool.

Why will 5,000BTU window units keep a whole bedroom cool, then? :confused:
 

Rubycon

Madame President
Aug 10, 2005
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Originally posted by: Eli

Why will 5,000BTU window units keep a whole bedroom cool, then? :confused:

Much lower thermal load. Additionally most bedrooms aren't 120F when you get in to do your business. :p

 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Originally posted by: MS Dawn
Originally posted by: Eli

Why will 5,000BTU window units keep a whole bedroom cool, then? :confused:

Much lower thermal load. Additionally most bedrooms aren't 120F when you get in to do your business. :p
How does a bedroom have less thermal load than the cabin of a car?

Is it all the glass in a car?
 

Iron Woode

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 10, 1999
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Originally posted by: Eli
Just curious.

My car doesen't have A/C, so I'm brainstorming a plan to add it. :evil:

No, it's not what you're thinking...

Text

lol
I have no idea, but my Ford is setup for a 3.5 pound of refrigerant compressor.
 

Jeff7181

Lifer
Aug 21, 2002
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Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: MS Dawn
Originally posted by: Eli

Why will 5,000BTU window units keep a whole bedroom cool, then? :confused:

Much lower thermal load. Additionally most bedrooms aren't 120F when you get in to do your business. :p
How does a bedroom have less thermal load than the cabin of a car?

Is it all the glass in a car?

That and people want instant cold. They don't want to wait 20 minutes for the temperature to go from 120 to 70 degrees.
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Damn..

Well, scrap that idea then. ;) LOL..

I was toying with the idea of using a couple of 300W peltiers, surplus radiators and circulating pumps to rig up some cool air, but I guess 2,000BTU wouldn't be anywhere near enough.
 

Jeff7181

Lifer
Aug 21, 2002
18,368
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Originally posted by: Eli
Damn..

Well, scrap that idea then. ;) LOL..

I was toying with the idea of using a couple of 300W peltiers, surplus radiators and circulating pumps to rig up some cool air, but I guess 2,000BTU wouldn't be anywhere near enough.

It would if you live in Canada and don't mind waiting a half hour for it to cool down in your car. :)
 

Iron Woode

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 10, 1999
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Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Originally posted by: Eli
Damn..

Well, scrap that idea then. ;) LOL..

I was toying with the idea of using a couple of 300W peltiers, surplus radiators and circulating pumps to rig up some cool air, but I guess 2,000BTU wouldn't be anywhere near enough.

It would if you live in Canada and don't mind waiting a half hour for it to cool down in your car. :)
or he could just roll down his windows. 2/40 air FTW!!!!
 

Jeff7181

Lifer
Aug 21, 2002
18,368
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81
Originally posted by: Iron Woode
Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Originally posted by: Eli
Damn..

Well, scrap that idea then. ;) LOL..

I was toying with the idea of using a couple of 300W peltiers, surplus radiators and circulating pumps to rig up some cool air, but I guess 2,000BTU wouldn't be anywhere near enough.

It would if you live in Canada and don't mind waiting a half hour for it to cool down in your car. :)
or he could just roll down his windows. 2/40 air FTW!!!!

That doesn't involve much tinkering though. :)
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
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Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Originally posted by: Iron Woode
Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Originally posted by: Eli
Damn..

Well, scrap that idea then. ;) LOL..

I was toying with the idea of using a couple of 300W peltiers, surplus radiators and circulating pumps to rig up some cool air, but I guess 2,000BTU wouldn't be anywhere near enough.

It would if you live in Canada and don't mind waiting a half hour for it to cool down in your car. :)
or he could just roll down his windows. 2/40 air FTW!!!!

That doesn't involve much tinkering though. :)
Exactly! :)

I bet I could do it pretty cheap, but there's no point if it won't be effective...

Wouldn't be too hard tho...

Maybe I'd be better off just finding a car of the same model/year at a junkyard with A/C and put it in...
 

Iron Woode

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 10, 1999
31,161
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Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Originally posted by: Iron Woode
Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Originally posted by: Eli
Damn..

Well, scrap that idea then. ;) LOL..

I was toying with the idea of using a couple of 300W peltiers, surplus radiators and circulating pumps to rig up some cool air, but I guess 2,000BTU wouldn't be anywhere near enough.

It would if you live in Canada and don't mind waiting a half hour for it to cool down in your car. :)
or he could just roll down his windows. 2/40 air FTW!!!!

That doesn't involve much tinkering though. :)
Exactly! :)

I bet I could do it pretty cheap, but there's no point if it won't be effective...

Wouldn't be too hard tho...

Maybe I'd be better off just finding a car of the same model/year at a junkyard with A/C and put it in...
or you can go to http://www.vintageair.com/ and get something different.
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
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Originally posted by: Iron Woode
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Originally posted by: Iron Woode
Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Originally posted by: Eli
Damn..

Well, scrap that idea then. ;) LOL..

I was toying with the idea of using a couple of 300W peltiers, surplus radiators and circulating pumps to rig up some cool air, but I guess 2,000BTU wouldn't be anywhere near enough.

It would if you live in Canada and don't mind waiting a half hour for it to cool down in your car. :)
or he could just roll down his windows. 2/40 air FTW!!!!

That doesn't involve much tinkering though. :)
Exactly! :)

I bet I could do it pretty cheap, but there's no point if it won't be effective...

Wouldn't be too hard tho...

Maybe I'd be better off just finding a car of the same model/year at a junkyard with A/C and put it in...
or you can go to http://www.vintageair.com/ and get something different.
hmm..

Wouldn't it be easier to install something from the same model/year tho?
 

Jeff7181

Lifer
Aug 21, 2002
18,368
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Ya know what might be more interesting? Setting up something similar to pump some 50 degree air into your computer case. I imagine that would drop the temperature of everything quite a bit if it's source of fresh air was 50 degrees all the time. If you're really bored, you could even plumb the lines so that the fans for the condenser are in a totally different room.
 

Iron Woode

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 10, 1999
31,161
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Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: Iron Woode
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Originally posted by: Iron Woode
Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Originally posted by: Eli
Damn..

Well, scrap that idea then. ;) LOL..

I was toying with the idea of using a couple of 300W peltiers, surplus radiators and circulating pumps to rig up some cool air, but I guess 2,000BTU wouldn't be anywhere near enough.

It would if you live in Canada and don't mind waiting a half hour for it to cool down in your car. :)
or he could just roll down his windows. 2/40 air FTW!!!!

That doesn't involve much tinkering though. :)
Exactly! :)

I bet I could do it pretty cheap, but there's no point if it won't be effective...

Wouldn't be too hard tho...

Maybe I'd be better off just finding a car of the same model/year at a junkyard with A/C and put it in...
or you can go to http://www.vintageair.com/ and get something different.
hmm..

Wouldn't it be easier to install something from the same model/year tho?
depends on the age of the vehicle. Old = r12 = very expensive.
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
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Originally posted by: Iron Woode
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: Iron Woode
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Originally posted by: Iron Woode
Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Originally posted by: Eli
Damn..

Well, scrap that idea then. ;) LOL..

I was toying with the idea of using a couple of 300W peltiers, surplus radiators and circulating pumps to rig up some cool air, but I guess 2,000BTU wouldn't be anywhere near enough.

It would if you live in Canada and don't mind waiting a half hour for it to cool down in your car. :)
or he could just roll down his windows. 2/40 air FTW!!!!

That doesn't involve much tinkering though. :)
Exactly! :)

I bet I could do it pretty cheap, but there's no point if it won't be effective...

Wouldn't be too hard tho...

Maybe I'd be better off just finding a car of the same model/year at a junkyard with A/C and put it in...
or you can go to http://www.vintageair.com/ and get something different.
hmm..

Wouldn't it be easier to install something from the same model/year tho?
depends on the age of the vehicle. Old = r12 = very expensive.
There are repacements for R12, although they are less effective.

It's a 1990 Toyota Tercel.